Systems and methods for information management involving taxonomy and lifespan planning

• US 20060080327A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Norman W Gramiling Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norman W Gramiling Incorporated
• Inventors: Gramling, Norman W., Tyson, Lelyn
• Application Number:
  US10/961,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for aiding users in collecting, organizing and deploying various types of data that are simultaneously related to at least two taxonomies. In the present invention, the functionalities for facilitating information management include, but not limited to, visualizing the relatedness between the data and the taxonomies, assisting users in strategic planning based in part upon lifespan information of the data, establishing information standards and keeping track of any information change to generate impact analyses and reports. One particular application of the present invention is an Information Technology (IT) Architecture Management System.

Claims

1. A method for information management involving taxonomy and lifespan planning, said method comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a first taxonomy domain from a first hierarchical classification system, said first hierarchical classification system comprising a first set of taxonomy domains in various tiers of a first taxonomy;

receiving said first taxonomy domain from said user;

allowing said user to select a second taxonomy domain from a second hierarchical classification system, said second hierarchical classification system comprising a second set of taxonomy domains in various tiers of a second taxonomy;

receiving said second taxonomy domain from said user; and

in response to receiving said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, generating an association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, said association relating to one or more instances,

wherein,

each of said one or more instances is defined by an element and a specification, and said one or more instances are identified through the steps of;

generating an environment status for said association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses,

generating a lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status,

for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status,

responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status, and

further identifying a stage term and a date of entry for said instance in said stage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first taxonomy is an organization comprising one selected from the group of an enterprise, a corporation, a non-profit association, a government department or any other entities, and said first hierarchical classification system comprises organizational components in various tiers within said organization.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second taxonomy is Information Technology (IT) architecture and said second hierarchical classification system comprises architectural components in various tiers of said Information Technology (IT) architecture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first set of taxonomy domains is related to at least a super domain or a sub-domain in said first taxonomy, and each of said second set of taxonomy domains is related to at least a super domain or a sub-domain in said second taxonomy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said association comprises a plan that associates said first taxonomy domain with said second taxonomy domain, said plan presenting said environment status and said lifespan stage related to said one or more instances to said user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is selected from an element dictionary comprising a plurality of elements, each of said plurality of elements containing basic information relating to each of said one or more instances.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said specification is selected from a specification dictionary comprising a plurality of specifications, each of said plurality of specifications containing additional information relating to each of said one or more instances, said specification dictionary configurable pursuant to said user'"'"'s needs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said environment status comprises a first status identifying that any instances in said first status are in current use.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said environment status further comprises a second status identifying that any instances in said second status will keep in a tactical use.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said environment status further comprises a third status identifying that any instances in said third status will come into use in a strategic plan.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said lifespan stage comprises a first stage corresponding to said first status, wherein said first stage will be selected for each of said any instances in said first status, and said first stage shows that said any instances in said first status are in a retirement stage.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said lifespan stage further comprises a second stage corresponding to both said first status and said second status, wherein said second stage will be selected for each of said any instances in both said first status and said second status, and said second stage shows that said any instances in both said first status and said second status are in a containment stage.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said lifespan stage further comprises a third stage corresponding to both said second status and said third status, wherein said third stage will be selected for each of said any instances in both said second status and said third status, and said second stage shows that said any instances in both said second status and said third status are an approved stage.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said lifespan stage further comprises a fourth stage corresponding to said third status, wherein said third stage will be selected for each of said any instances in said third status, and said fourth stage shows that said any instances in said third status are in an Research &

Development (R&

D) stage.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying to said user said one or more instances in said environment status and said lifespan stage.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing said user to select a particular instance from said one or more instances;

displaying to said user information relating to said particular instance, said information including a particular element, a particular specification, a particular environment status, a particular lifespan stage and related stage terms and dates of entry; and

allowing said user to modify said information relating to said particular instance.

17. A system for information management involving taxonomy and lifespan planning, said system comprising:

a data storage device configured to include at least a database; and

a processor having access to said database, said processor configured to perform the steps of;

receiving a first user input, said first user input comprising a first taxonomy domain selected from a first hierarchical classification system, said first hierarchical classification system comprising a first set of taxonomy domains in various tiers of a first taxonomy;

receiving a second user input, said second user input comprising a second taxonomy domain selected from a second hierarchical classification system, said second hierarchical classification system comprising a second set of taxonomy domains in various tiers of a second taxonomy;

in response to receiving said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, generating an association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, said association relating to one or more instances, each of said one or more instances including at least an element and a specification;

identifying said one or more instances from said database through the steps of;

(A) generating an environment status for said association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses,

(B) generating a lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status,

(C) for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status,

(D) responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status, and

(E) further identifying a stage term and a date of entry for said instance in said stage.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor is further configured for:

displaying said one or more instances existing in said environment status and said lifespan stage.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor is further configured for:

allowing a user to select a particular instance from said one or more instances;

displaying to said user information relating to said particular instance, said information including a particular element, a particular specification, a particular environment status, a particular lifespan stage and related stage terms and dates of entry; and

allowing said user to modify said information relating to said particular instance.

20. A method for managing information associated with different taxonomies, said method comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a first taxonomy domain from a first taxonomy, and further select a second taxonomy domain from a second taxonomy;

responsive to receiving said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, determining whether neither said first taxonomy domain nor said second taxonomy domain has sub-domains, and

if so, searching a database storing data regarding a plurality of instances to identify one or more instances relating to an association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain and display said one or more instances in an environment status and a lifespan stage; and

otherwise, triggering a rollup application prior to displaying any instances relating to said association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said rollup application comprises:

identifying a set of sub-domains of said first taxonomy domain;

associating each of said set of sub-domains with said second taxonomy domain to create a set of sub-associations;

for each of said set of sub-associations, searching said database to identify instances relating to said sub-association;

categorizing said instances into several groups of instances based upon a specific item, each of said groups having the same value of said specific item; and

incrementing counts for each of said several groups of instances.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first taxonomy is an organization comprising one selected from the group of an enterprise, a corporation, a non-profit association, a government department or any other entities.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said second taxonomy is Information Technology (IT) architecture.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of instances is defined by at least an element and a specification,

said element selected from an element dictionary comprising a plurality of elements, each of said plurality of elements containing basic information relating to each of said plurality of instances,

said specification selected from a specification dictionary comprising a plurality of specifications, each of said plurality of specifications containing additional information relating to each of said plurality of instances, said specification dictionary configurable pursuant to said user'"'"'s needs.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said one or more instances are identified through the steps of:

generating said environment status for said association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses;

generating said lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status;

for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status;

responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status; and

further identifying a stage term and a date of entry for said instance in said stage.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

allowing said user to select a particular instance from said one or more instances identified from said database;

displaying to said user information relating to said particular instance, said information including a particular element, a particular specification, a particular environment status, a particular lifespan stage and related stage terms and dates of entry; and

allowing said user to modify said information relating to said particular instance.

28. An information management system for associating different taxonomies, said system comprising:

a data storage device configured to include at least a database, said database storing data relating to a plurality of instances, each of said plurality of instances defined by an element in conjunction with a specification;

a processor having access to said database, said processor configure for;

receiving a user input comprising a first taxonomy domain from a first taxonomy and a second taxonomy domain from a second taxonomy;

responsive to receiving said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain, determining whether neither said first taxonomy domain nor said second taxonomy domain has sub-domains;

responsive to the determination that neither domain has sub-domains, searching said database to identify one or more instances relating to an association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain;

responsive to the determination that at least said first taxonomy domain has sub-domains, identifying a set of sub-domains of said first taxonomy domain;

associating each of said set of sub-domains with said second taxonomy domain to create a set of sub-associations;

for each of said set of sub-associations, searching said database to identify instances relating to said sub-association;

categorizing said instances into several groups of instances based upon a specific item, each of said groups having the same value of said specific item; and

incrementing counts for each of said several groups of instances.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said processor is further configured for:

displaying said one or more instances identified from said database in an environment status and a lifespan stage, said environment status comprising one or more statuses, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, each of said one or more stages determined based in part upon said one or more statuses of said environment status, and further corresponding to a stage term and a date of entry.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said processor is further configured for:

allowing a user to select a particular instance from said one or more instances;

displaying to said user information relating to said particular instance, said information including a particular element, a particular specification, a particular environment status, a particular lifespan stage and related stage terms and dates of entry; and

allowing said user to modify said information relating to said particular instance.

31. A method of standardization for information management, said method comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a first taxonomy domain from a first information taxonomy and a second taxonomy domain from a second information taxonomy;

identifying and displaying one or more instances from a database storing data for a number of instances, said one or more instances relating to an association between said first taxonomy domain and said second taxonomy domain;

allowing said user to insert an additional instance as related to said association;

determining whether said additional instance is marked by said user as standard, and if not, inserting said additional instance into said database as related to said association;

(A) responsive to the determination that said additional instance is marked as standard, further determining whether said first taxonomy domain is a first standard domain of said first information taxonomy, and if so, marking said additional instance as a first standard for said second taxonomy domain prior to inserting said additional instance into said database as related to said association; and

(B) responsive to the determination that said first taxonomy domain is not said first standard domain of said first information taxonomy, determining whether said first standard exists for said second taxonomy domain,

(1) responsive to the determination that said first standard does not exist for said second taxonomy domain, marking said additional instance as a second standard for said second taxonomy domain prior to inserting said additional instance into said database as related to said association, and

(2) responsive to the determination that said first standard exists for said second taxonomy domain, determining whether said additional instance matches said first standard,

(a) responsive to the determination that said additional instance matches said first standard, marking said additional instance as a third standard matching said first standard for said second taxonomy domain prior to inserting said additional instance into said database as related to said association, and

(b) responsive to the determination that said additional instance does not match said first standard, alerting to said user that said additional instance does not match said first standard.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

receiving a confirmation from said user that said additional instance is to be inserted regardless of its not matching said first standard; and

marking said additional instance as a fourth standard not matching said first standard prior to inserting said additional instance into said database as related to said association.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said first information taxonomy comprises a hierarchy of multiple taxonomy domains, each of said multiple taxonomy domains having at least one from the group of a super domain and a sub-domain.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said second information taxonomy comprises a hierarchy of multiple taxonomy domains, each of said multiple taxonomy domains having at least one from the group of a super domain and a sub-domain.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein each of said number of instances is defined by at least an element and a specification, wherein,

said element selected from an element dictionary comprising a plurality of elements, each of said plurality of elements containing basic information relating to each of said plurality of instances, and

said specification selected from a specification dictionary comprising a plurality of specifications, each of said plurality of specifications containing additional information relating to each of said plurality of instances, said specification dictionary configurable pursuant to said user'"'"'s needs.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said one or more instances are identified through the steps of:

generating said environment status for said association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses;

generating said lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status;

for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status;

responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status; and

further identifying a stage term and a date of entry for said instance in said stage

37. A method of impact analysis for information management, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) identifying a first instance related to a first association between a first organizational taxonomy domain with a first architectural taxonomy domain;

(B) displaying information regarding said first instance for a user input to modify said information, said information including an element, an specification, an environment status, a lifespan stage and related stage terms and dates of entry in connection with said first instance;

(C) modifying said first instance based upon said user input;

(D) identifying a second instance related to a second association between a second organizational taxonomy domain with a second architectural taxonomy domain;

(E) determining a change in said second instance as a result of modifying said first instance; and

(F) generating a report including said modification of said first instance and said change in said second instance.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said first instance and said second instance are identified from a plurality of instances stored in a database, each of said plurality of instances relating to one of a plurality of associations between an organizational taxonomy comprising a plurality of organization taxonomy domains and an architecture taxonomy comprising a plurality of architecture taxonomy domains.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said first instance is identified through the steps of:

generating said environment status for said first association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses;

generating said lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status;

for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status;

responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status; and

further identifying said stage term and said date of entry for said instance in said stage.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said element is selected from an element dictionary comprising a plurality of elements, each of said plurality of elements containing basic information relating to each of said plurality of instances.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said specification selected from a specification dictionary comprising a plurality of specifications, each of said plurality of specifications containing additional information relating to each of said plurality of instances, said specification dictionary configurable pursuant to said user'"'"'s needs.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein said first organizational taxonomy domain and said second organizational taxonomy domain are selected by a user from a hierarchical organization taxonomy, said hierarchical organization taxonomy comprising a plurality of taxonomy domains, each having at least one from the group of a super domain and a sub-domain.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein said first architectural taxonomy domain and said second architectural taxonomy domain are selected by a user from a hierarchical IT architecture taxonomy, said hierarchical IT architecture taxonomy comprising a plurality of taxonomy domains, each having at least one from the group of a super domain and a sub-domain.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

identifying a third Instance related to a third association between a third organization taxonomy domain and a third architecture taxonomy domain; and

determining a change in said third instance as a result of modifying said first instance.

45. A method for facilitating cost control in IT asset management, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting an organization taxonomy domain from a hierarchical organization taxonomy comprising multiple organization taxonomy domains;

selecting an architecture taxonomy domain from a hierarchical architecture taxonomy comprising multiple architecture taxonomy domains;

searching a database based upon an association between said organization taxonomy domain and said architecture taxonomy domain to identify one or more instances related to said association, each of said one or more instances comprising a specific item of cost; and

calculating, for said organization taxonomy domain associated with said architecture taxonomy domain, a total cost of said one or more instances based upon said specific item of cost.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

selecting a first organization taxonomy domain from said hierarchical organization taxonomy;

associating said first organization taxonomy domain with said architecture taxonomy domain;

searching said database to identify a first group of instances related to said first organization taxonomy domain associated with said architecture taxonomy domain; and

calculating for said first organization taxonomy domain associated with said architecture taxonomy domain, a total cost of said second group of instances based upon a specific cost that each of said second group of instances contains.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

selecting a second architecture taxonomy domain from said hierarchical architecture taxonomy;

associating said organization taxonomy domain with said second architecture taxonomy domain;

searching said database to identify a second group of instances related to said organization taxonomy domain associated with said second architecture taxonomy domain; and

calculating for said organization taxonomy domain associated with said second architecture taxonomy domain, a total cost of said second group of instances based upon a specific cost that each of said second group of instances contains.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

calculating, for each one of said multiple organization taxonomy domains of said first hierarchical organization taxonomy, a total cost of having all instances related to said one of said multiple organization taxonomy domains associated with said architecture domain.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

generating a cost report for said organization taxonomy, said cost report listing a set of total costs relating to instances relating to each one of said multiple organization taxonomy domains associated with said architecture domain.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein each of said one or more instances is identified through the steps of:

generating an environment status for said association, said environment status comprising one or more statuses,

generating a lifespan stage for said association, said lifespan stage comprising one or more stages, said one or more stages corresponding to said one or more statues of said environment status,

for each of said one or more statuses of said environmental status, determining whether an instance related to said association exists in said status,

responsive to the determination that said instance exists in said status, selecting, from said one or more stages of said lifespan stage, a stage for said instance based in part upon said status, and

further identifying a stage term and a date of entry for said instance in said stage.